Outdoor Seating That is Comfortable Enough to Actually Use

It feels like a miracle when the warm weather rolls around and you can finally spend some time outdoors. Whether you’re taking a break from yard work or working on your tan, you’re going to want a comfortable place to relax. Unfortunately, a lot of outdoor seating is the equivalent of sitting on a hard rock–sure it can withstand the weather, but it doesn’t offer much comfort.

In this article, we’ll talk about some of the best outdoor seating available that will get you outside without sacrificing the comfort of your recliner.

Hammocks

We don’t know exactly when the hammock was invented, but the first written account of their use comes from Spanish colonists in the 1400s who noticed Native South Americans using them for sleeping. They were originally made from the bark of a hamack tree–hence the name–but since then have been made of a number of different materials.

In the United States, the hammock market has been dominated by, well, the worst type of hammock there is. When you think of a hammock you probably think of white rope hung between two trees with wooden separator bars to keep the netted rope open. Originally, hammocks didn’t have those separator bars–and for good reason. Separator bars make for the unsteady, dizzying experience that many people have when they get in a hammock for the first time. Without the bars, you have a much steadier, more comfortable experience that is closer to what Native South Americans have experiences for hundreds of years.

Hanging rope chair

Like the hammock, hanging rope chairs also utilize gravity to add to their comfort level. The difference here is that you are in a seated or semi-reclined position.

Rope chairs often have weather-proof seat and back cushions that make them all the more comfortable. You can buy a free-standing chair, or one that hangs from a tree branch.

Floating lounge chairs

If you want to bring your comfort on-the-go, a lounge chair is one of your best options. Lounge chairs have undergone several innovations over the years–some for better, some for worse.

Quality lounge chairs make sure your back and seat cushion aren’t touching any parts of the metal frame. One good example is the Cabela’s zero-gravity lounge chair. They fold up easily and are very comfortable, but they are significantly heavier than cheaper, aluminum framed lounge chairs.

Cushioned furniture set

If you plan on entertaining guests on the patio, there are several outdoor furniture sets that have thick, durable cushions to keep everyone comfortable. You can spend anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars on a patio set. And, more than anything else on this list, you get what you pay for.

Maintaining a patio set is more complicated than the other items we’ve mentioned. Some have removable cushions that you should bring inside at night or when it rains. Others come with furniture covers that will keep the chairs in prime conditions but are–admittedly–an eyesore.

Whichever options you choose, be sure to try before you buy. When you’re shopping for comfort, no one can tell you better than your own back.